5 Things You Should Know: Round 16

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To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best – a statement that is certainly true when it comes to the NRL premiership chase.

So how exactly do these two sides fair against the best eight teams in the competition?

Well, the Broncos seem to be doing reasonably well and have won 4/7 games against the current top eight sides.

Canberra on the other hand hasn’t been so fortunate in this regard, winning only 1/7 games facing sides in the current top eight so they will be very eager to turn things around on Saturday V Brisbane.

2. Raiding The Try-Line

The Raiders are one of the most prolific try-scoring sides in the NRL and there is no denying their attacking prowess. How exactly?

They've done this by scoring 55 tries from their 14 games (averaging 3.9 per game), which sits them just behind the Melbourne Storm who have scored 57 tries in 14 games and lead the NRL competition.

This means that if the Raiders’ defence is on-point this weekend, the Broncos could have a huge task ahead of them.

3. Grinding Down The Green Machine

Canberra may be quite cold this time of year but the Broncos have been running red-hot against the ‘Green Machine’ in recent times.

Currently they are on a four-game winning streak V Raiders, winning many of these games rather well - averaging a solid 22.75 points per game!

4. Rapana Is Ripping In

Jordan Rapana should be one of the biggest concerns for the Broncos on Saturday night as he is really tearing through his opposition.

Rapana has scored a try in every one of his last four games and bagged a double on two of these occasions.

He is currently the equal top try-scorer in the competition, leads the NRL in line breaks and is second overall for tackle breaks.

If Brisbane want to win on Saturday, Rapana is certainly one of the main men they need to shut down.

5. Right-Edge Raiders

This may almost be stating the obvious, but the Raiders’ right-edge is by far their preferred attacking edge.

It’s no surprise that 30/55 tries scored by Canberra were on this side of the field, considering they have the powerful combination of Jordan Rapana and Joseph Leilua on-hand.

Thankfully for Brisbane though, their defence on the right-edge is one of their strengths so they may be able to defuse this dynamic duo.